First Response with PepperBall CEO Bob Plaschke

You can’t understand modern American policing by looking only at headlines. The real story lives in the everyday moments: a traffic stop, a tense protest line, a hard conversation with a mayor, a decision to de-escalate instead of escalate. That’s why we sat down with Aurora CO, Chief Art Acevedo, (Ret.) one of the most decorated big-city police chiefs (Austin TX, Houston TX, Miami FL) of the last few decades, to talk about what actually builds trust and what quietly destroys it.

We start with Art’s American journey, arriving from Cuba on the Freedom Flights, and how his family’s push to assimilate and embrace diversity shaped the way he leads. From there, we get honest about the trust gap around law enforcement, why police are still judged as part of government, and what changed after George Floyd. Art explains why mass crowd tactics can backfire, why precision and restraint matter, and how leaders earn credibility by showing up and leading from the front.

The heart of the conversation is leadership and ethics. Art lays down a blunt rule for anyone chasing the top job: don’t become a police chief unless you can afford to lose the job, because integrity is the only thing you fully control. He also breaks down “relational policing” and his TREAT framework (transparency, respect, engagement to build emotional capital, accountability) as a practical blueprint for better outcomes, safer officers, and stronger community relationships. We close with why professional associations matter in a nation with 18,000 separate agencies but one Constitution.

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A lot of agencies are being asked to lower use of force complaints while handling more mental health calls, addiction-related incidents, and day-to-day disorder with fewer people on shift. That squeeze creates a simple operational question: how do we keep officers safe and still resolve resistance without defaulting to higher-force tools? Lieutenant Frank Borelli sits down with PepperBall CEO Bob Plaschke to dig into what command staff are asking for right now and why “non-lethal at distance” is becoming central to modern de-escalation.

We get specific about the street realities: why creating 35 to 50 feet of space can change decision-making, reduce panic, and keep officers out of the close-range danger zone. Bob explains how less-lethal launchers are being used to drive behavior change, what the effects feel like, and why shorter decontamination time matters for both subjects and officers. We also talk about the situations everyone dreads, like noncompliant vehicle occupants and barricaded subjects, and how distance-based tools can reduce the need for risky hands-on extraction or blind entries.

Along the way, we connect tactics to the bigger picture of community policing and officer wellness. Fewer injuries, clearer body-camera narratives, and less lifelong “baggage” after violent encounters aren’t abstract benefits, they shape careers and trust. If you care about police officer safety, law enforcement de-escalation, and practical less-lethal options that work in the real world, this conversation is for you. 

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Video has become the new witness, and that changes everything for public safety. PepperBall CEO Bob Plaschke sits down with retired Colonel Frank Milstead, former Mesa Police Chief and former head of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, to get brutally practical about body-worn cameras: why they took off, why “recording” is only step one, and why agencies that do not review footage are setting themselves up for failure in court and in public trust.

This episode also digs into what cameras can’t do. A body cam is a single viewpoint that can be blocked by hands, steering wheels, or the officer’s own movement, and it will never recreate the full perception of a high-stress moment. Frank connects that reality to today’s fast-moving headlines, especially around ICE operations, where multiple videos can trigger instant judgment while the real facts still require time, review, and investigation. Plaschke and Milstead talk about how quotas and poor arrest planning can raise risk, and why accountability has to be aimed at leadership decisions as much as front-line actions.

From there, the discussion steps back to modern policing’s hardest workload: mental illness, addiction, and homelessness calls that officers are not truly equipped to solve with a vest, cuffs, and a sidearm. Milstead also calls out public safety technology that gets overhyped through data overload, and he makes a strong case for drones as first responder as the next big tool, plus the coming need for counter-drone defense. If you care about police transparency, body cameras, ICE oversight, and the future of public safety tech, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

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The loudest part of policing is what you see on the street. The harder story is what happens before and after the call, when the phone rings at 2 a.m. and someone’s life is suddenly on the line. We talk with Ed Wessing, retired Assistant Chief from Mesa, Arizona and a former Marine, about what it really feels like to step away after 30 years behind the badge and why retirement can be the first time your mind truly gets to exhale.

We get into how modern policing has changed: the jump from minimal tech to body-worn cameras and real-time scrutiny, and the shift from arrest-only metrics toward community policing that rewards relationships and trust. Ed explains the broken windows theory in plain language, why parts of it fell out of favor, and what replaced it: problem-solving that includes residents, city services, and long-term fixes that make neighborhoods safer. We also talk about homelessness, community courts, and why you cannot arrest your way out of every societal problem.

A big thread is police wellness and first responder mental health. Ed shares how leaders and officers cope with cumulative trauma, why younger officers push for better work-life balance, and how training has evolved into immersive scenario-based simulators with coaching and debriefs. We close with the misconceptions he wishes more people understood: most officers do not want force, they want compliance and everyone going home safe, and they carry the weight of what they see for years.

If you care about public safety, police training, community trust, and the future of law enforcement, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the conversation. What’s one policing misconception you’ve heard that needs correcting?

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The sirens get the headlines, but the choices that shape a city’s safety often start far from the street. We sit down with Appleton Police Chief Olson to trace her unexpected path from biology student and morgue assistant to the department’s first female chief, exploring how a ride‑along turned into a calling and why the future of policing hinges on empathy, de‑escalation, and smarter support for families.

Across a candid, story-rich conversation, we unpack the realities behind the badge: what drew a young mom into patrol work, how her husband navigated fear without a ready-made spouse network, and why fewer applicants and rising overtime create a burnout loop for departments nationwide. Olson offers a clear-eyed view of recruitment trends, from hundreds of candidates per opening to just a few dozen today, and explains how Appleton pushes back by building trust locally, showing up in schools, investing in transparency, and staying engaged long before a crisis.

We also get practical about representation and retention. Olson breaks down the obstacles that keep women from staying and leading - pregnancy, postpartum recovery, shift work, and rigid schedules - then connects them to solutions: transitional duties, parental leave that works, and mentorship that opens doors. Along the way, we discuss less-lethal options, tasers, and de‑escalation tactics that reduce hands-on force and center communication skills many officers hone over time. And yes, there are human moments too—like dropping off teens in a marked squad car and making a traffic stop as they slide out of sight in the backseat.

If you care about community policing, officer wellness, and smarter public safety, this conversation offers grounded insights and real steps forward. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review with the one change you believe would best improve trust where you live.

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The sirens fade and the real work begins. That’s where Kristen Neubauer, former captain and investigator with the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, takes us. Into the spaces where competence erodes bias, where leaders guard their team’s energy like a scarce resource, and where evidence, not instinct, carries the truth across the finish line. From being the only woman in her academy to leading complex investigations, she shares how pressure can unify teams and how empathy, used wisely, keeps you human without letting the job hollow you out.

We explore the difference between patrol’s volatility and an investigator’s long exposure to trauma, and why that distinction matters for mental health. Kristen breaks down what follow‑through with families looks like, how to be present without making promises the facts can’t support, and why small, timely check‑ins can change how people carry their grief. Her candor about leaving before burnout hits is a roadmap for anyone in a demanding role: know your energy, plan your exit at a high point, and carry your skills forward with intention.

The conversation turns into a masterclass on communication and decision‑making.  If you care about public safety, resilience, and the craft of finding truth in noisy systems, this story will stick with you long after the credits. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs these insights, and leave a review to tell us what challenged your thinking.

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A flood isn’t just water. It’s noise, darkness, panic, a moving car you can’t predict, and a victim who might fight the person trying to help. That’s why we brought on Barton Bollfrass, a Navy EOD diver turned technologist, who builds training environments and tools that mirror the chaos without the body count. Barton walks us through Fathom Tanks, the physical simulator that puts first responders into rushing water around real vehicles, with reluctant “victims,” lightning, sirens, and the stress that makes or breaks decisions. When teams can fail safely and reset in seconds, they learn what matters: how to move, how to communicate, and how to bring everyone home.

We also dive into the gear side of the job. Barton’s RoboRounds lab takes on hard problems with simple ideas: break complex automotive glass at standoff using ultra-hard ceramics so officers create an opening without closing distance; use compact “tangler” rounds to snag drone rotors over yards of airspace, avoiding explosives and collateral damage; and blind hostile sensors with LIDAR-disrupting payloads that smear and scramble optics without destroying property. These tools pair with non-lethal platforms like PepperBall to expand options between talking and force, giving responders space and time when scenes turn volatile.

The throughline is practical innovation for public safety. Most flood drownings involve vehicles, yet few responders get live, realistic reps on submerged cars. Drones smuggle contraband and scout borders, but low-risk defenses are scarce. Cameras and robots multiply watchful eyes, yet reversible ways to neutralize them are rare. Barton’s approach closes those gaps with stress-realistic training and precise, purpose-built technology. Listen to hear how these systems work, the data behind their design, and the stories from teams who say their rescues felt exactly like the tank.

If this resonated, share it with someone who cares about first responders, subscribe for more behind-the-badge stories, and leave a review to help others find the show. Got a scenario we should tackle next? Tell us—we’re listening.

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In this debut episode, PepperBall CEO Bob Plaschke speaks with former Air Force captain and Walnut Creek Police Sergeant (ret.) Michael Sugrue, author of Relentless Courage, a book that chronicles his personal battle with mental health challenges that peaked after he had to use lethal force.  Sugrue talks about the invisible toll of daily trauma on first responders and explains why “post-traumatic stress injury” (PTSI) is a more accurate and constructive term than “disorder,” outlining how repeated exposure to crisis produces real, physical changes in the brain. He contrasts short, defined combat deployments with the relentless, years-long hyper-vigilance of civilian policing, then lays out practical leadership steps: honesty, openness, and vulnerability from command staff to normalize seeking help. The discussion closes with a direct appeal to public-safety leaders and community partners to support evidence-based wellness programs, peer resources, and tools that create time and distance for safer outcomes.

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The front line is loud, but the mindset behind it is louder. Chief Scott Hughes joins us to unpack the lived reality of hypervigilance, why officers won’t sit with their backs to the door, and what constant scanning does to stress, health, and family life. From there, we dig into an uncomfortable truth: we expect “major league” perfection from police while funding “T-ball” training. Hughes argues for a new model built on daily fundamentals, stress-inoculated scenarios, and real coaching that turns good judgment into second nature.

We also tackle the swelling scope of police work. Understaffing and attrition have left fewer veterans to mentor new officers, even as the call mix expands to mental health crises and social conflicts that law enforcement shouldn’t always own. Hughes lays out practical alternatives: triage that reserves cops for genuine public safety threats, partnerships with clinicians, and clear guidelines that reduce needless escalations and liability. When seconds count and less-lethal tools don’t always work, policy must meet reality.

Use of force sits at the center of public debate, and we confront the myths head-on. Objectively reasonable force often begins when instructions are ignored, and what the public sees in a five-second clip rarely shows the chaos officers face. We offer simple, actionable tips for safer traffic stops—hands visible, dome light on, wait for direction—and a candid look at why force never looks “good” on a sidewalk. If communities want fewer errors and better outcomes, the fix is straightforward and hard: fund meaningful practice, align responsibilities with expertise, and keep talking about the why behind tactics.

If this conversation helped clarify the how and why of modern policing, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review telling us which change you’d fund first.

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What does policing look like beyond the dramatized TV portrayals and sensationalized headlines? In this illuminating conversation with retired Chief Doug Shoemaker, we uncover the profound realities of modern law enforcement leadership and the extraordinary psychological burden carried by those who wear the badge.

Chief Shoemaker brings 33 years of frontline experience to this discussion, including his roles as Chief of Police for both Denton, Texas and Grand Junction, Colorado. Now working alongside renowned leadership expert Simon Sinek at "The Curve," he's helping shape the future of police leadership in America.

The statistics are staggering - while average citizens experience only 2-4 major traumatic incidents in their lifetime, police officers witness hundreds throughout their careers. Yet they're expected to maintain their humanity and professionalism through it all. We explore how police culture has evolved from the old "suck it up" mentality to embracing wellness as a crucial component of effective policing.

Perhaps most surprising is Chief Shoemaker's revelation that nearly half of all police calls have nothing to do with law enforcement at all. Officers routinely serve as social workers, mental health first responders, and community mediators - roles rarely depicted in entertainment media that focuses exclusively on arrests and action.

The fragmented nature of American policing - with 18,000 different agencies nationwide - creates unique challenges for consistency in training, standards, and leadership. We discuss what it might look like to build a more cohesive system while maintaining the community-specific approaches that make American policing unique.

This conversation provides rare insight into the heart of law enforcement, revealing both the extraordinary challenges officers face and the evolving approaches to leadership that support them in serving their communities with humanity and effectiveness. Whether you work in public safety or simply want to understand what happens behind the badge, this episode will transform how you view the complex world of modern policing.

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